Wonderful Christmas

How was your Christmas?  Mine was wonderful! 

On Christmas Eve, we opened up presents from our cousins who live in Texas.  They gave us a game called "Shut The Box" as well as two Wii games, "Mario Winter Olympic Games" and "Family Game Night 2."  Our grandparents and neighbors came over for dinner, which was delicious (barbeque beef brisket, anyone?).  After a "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" cake, we played Wii.  Dad had two presents for each of us.  They were a stuffed penguin and a LED flashlight (I named my flashlight Indiana Jones).  Then we made cinnamon rolls, which have to rise overnight.

Christmas morning we got up and started cooking the rolls and sausage.  We ate and then started opening presents.  I got a t-shirt from BD's Mongolian Barbeque (it's a restaurant in Columbus) that says "Wolverines Taste Like Chicken."  I got a dog tag that says "Dance" on one side and "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Phillipians 4:13" on the other side, as well as a new purple dance leotard.  Luke, Morgan and I got "The Widow's Might," which is a fun movie, and I got Carrie Underwood's new CD, "Play On."  Mom gave me some clothes.  Mom's big gift was a food dehydrator, Dad's was a Keurig coffee maker, Luke's was some books (yes, books...he hugged me so hard he popped my jaw!), Morgan's was a framed drawing of her cat Oreo), and Logan and Lincoln's big present was a PowerWheels car. 

We played with our presents and then headed over to our grandparents house.  We had a big game of "Pit," which is a very fun trading game.  I yelled so much my voice was hoarse!  After a yummy dinner, we opened presents.  I got the "Nuttin' But Stringz" CD, a sparkly silver headband, things I will need for cake decorating, Burt's Bees chapstick, vanilla lip gloss, a necklace, clothes, and a ruby ring and earrings.  Dad's favorite gift was the "David Foster and Friends DVD," I'm not sure what Mom's favorite was, Luke's favorite was an iPod nano, Morgan's was a camera, Logan's was a Lego set (Grandpa remarked that it's crazy to pay so much for plastic...I concur!), and I'm not sure what Lincoln's favorite present was. 

Yesterday the Paxton's came over, and we had a fun time playing with them.  Today we're going to hang out around the house and I think we have some shopping and returning to do.

Tomorrow we're going to Columbus...Mom has some bloodwork and then we're doing more returning and exchanging.

Only five more days this year!

~ Madison

It's Almost Christmas

It's almost Christmas!!  Yay!  Only four more days!!! Yay!  (you can't tell I'm excited, can you?)

One tradition we have at our house is that we always eat Cinnamon Buns for breakfast.  They are these delicious, ooey gooey dinner rolls that have sat and risen overnight in this mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and butterscotch pudding mix.  Talk about yummy!  We're also going to eat Bob Evans sausage.

And that's a delectable tradition.

What's something you do with your family for Christmas every year?

~ Madison

Quotes

Here are some of my favorite, interesting, or personally memorable quotes I found this year.

"Therefore do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are acheiving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"It is what men do to children that makes or mars our world." ~ Son of Charlemagne, Barbara Willard

"Every life and every act/Consequence of good and evil can be shown." ~ Murder in the Cathedral, T.S. Eliot

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." ~ Psalms 27:14

"For now sits Expectation in the air..." ~ King Henry V, William Shakespeare

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." ~ Colossians 2:2,3

"If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God." ~ George MacDonald

Merry Christmas!

Madison

The Best Christmas Decoration Ever

I got this as a forwarded email, so it might not be true, but it sure is hilarious!!!

"Good news is that I truly outdid myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down.


First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard."

School

Today is a school day.  I really like school...I do.  Bible (we're reading about different Christmas carols), history (the middle ages), math (geometry), reading and writing (I'm writing about The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer), French, and science (I'm starting the seventh module of chemistry). 

Yesterday my siblings and I were listening to some good music: Carol of the Bells covered by Family Force 5 and Joy to the World covered by David Archuleta. 

What's your favorite Christmas song? Oh, and don't forget to vote on my poll, "What's your favorite Christmas candy?"

~ Madison

Ballet Conditioning

Last night at my ballet class we had an entire hour of conditioning.  Boy did/does it hurt!  We did lots of plies, some frappes, developpes, tendus, rond de jambes, and attitude bell swings.  We did leg conditioning first, and then some core/ab work.  After the class most of of could barely walk.  :)  Of course, it's good for us, but at the time it's never fun.

Tonight Morgan has her Homeschool Jazz "recital."  Her class is performing at a local nursing home to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!.  They are borrowing costumes from the studio. 

Oh, yes, we've picked out the songs for all my classes (including my student teaching classes).  My 3-&-4-y.o.'s are dancing to Dream Time Ballet.  My 5-y.o. Shooting Stars are dancing to The Future So Bright I've Gotta Wear Shades.  And my Senior Ballet class is dancing to The Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet.  Good times!

Happy cold day (it's extremely cold here!!).

~ Madison